Baggage screener held in alleged thefts

October 8, 2008 3:25:45 AM PDT

Eyewitness News

NEWARK, N.J. --

A baggage screener at Newark Liberty Airport could face up to 10 years in prison for allegedly stealing more than 100 items out of passengers' luggage. The items included cameras, laptops, cell phones, GPS devices and MP3 players.

Pythias Brown is scheduled to appear in federal court in Newark on Wednesday.

Authorities said the 48-year-old Maplewood resident told them he began stealing the items last year.

Brown allegedly tried to sell a stolen CNN camera on eBay.

Investigators placed the winning bid and traced the camera back to Brown.

A spokeswoman for the Transportation Security Administration said Brown worked behind the ticket counter where checked bags are screened.